Roy Hodgson will announce his World Cup squad today and rumours and speculation have already been flying around. Ashley Cole revealed yesterday that he had received a call from the England manager informing him that he will not be selected. Cole then immediately announced his retirement from international football and took the decision very gracefully.

Carrick will turn 33 in July and is unlikely to make his way back into Hodgson's plans as he attempts to put some focus on the youth for the future. Carrick has won 31 caps for England since making is debut in 2001 but has never managed to establish himself in the team under any manager. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have often occupied the central roles and both are set to be named in the squad later today.

Hodgson had previously warned that Manchester United players would be under threat due to the club's poor performance this season and Carrick is the first player who is set to miss out on the squad. It is unlikely Tom Cleverley will make the squad either despite being a regular starter during the qualifying campaign.

Ross Barkley could make the final 23 and it shows that faith will be put in the youngsters following the admission that Luke Shaw will be named ahead of Ashley Cole. There is certainly a changing of the guard occurring in the national set-up.

Josh McLoughlin

Josh is a 21-year-old aspiring Football journalist based in Preston/Manchester and a huge Preston North End fan. His own blog aloadofballs1.wordpress.com takes a look at many Football issues from across the world and has attracted views from all over the world, from Nepal to Peru.